The hottest ticket in ski travel? Step forward China

It's not the first thing that comes to mind when we think of China, but the country is seeing a serious spike in ski tourism.

Perhaps it's to do with Beijing's successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, perhaps it's to do with the rise in Chinese being interested in alpine resorts.

Either way, Japanese ski resorts finally have a healthy competitor after ruling the Asian ski scene for the past decade or so.

As part of the country's massive expansion into the ski market, Club Med is opening their second snowy resort in the country later this year.

Found in Beidahu, two hours from Beijing in the Jilin province, you'll find a vertical drop of 800m – the highest in the country – with 12 pistes, suitable for both beginners and confident intermediates.

The chain's new offering boasts to having 176 rooms, eight premium suites, an array of restaurants and bars, with spa and hot tub.

Club Med's decision to open their second resort in the country is a great indicator of the rise in ski tourism in the country.

A room at the soon-to-be opened Club Med property.

Marine Blanchetier, spokeswoman for Club Med said: "We are seeing huge opportunities in China as a snow destination, both in the domestic market as the Chinese are getting more and more interested in skiing, but also as a new destination for international travellers who want to enjoy a different kind of snow holiday.

"China's ski culture is fast-becoming more prominent, and it’s not surprising. China has countless possibilities to create amazing ski domains, and is quickly developing its local ski resorts in the lead-up to the 2022 Snow Olympics in Beijing."

In fact, on the outskirts of Beijing, the ten main ski resorts – including Huaibei Ski Resort, Snow World and Nanshan – all offer varying experiences and are a bit more a relaxed experience than the ever-popular Japanese resorts.

It comes as the Chinese are now embracing life on the snow, both in their home country and at alpine resorts across Europe.

In Switzerland alone, China became their fourth biggest import of visitors for their ski season, up 33 percent from the previous year.

Ski teacher Warren Smith, who founded the Warren Smith Ski Academy, told The Telegraph he's seen a spike in Chinese wanting to learn real technique.

He explained: "It’s almost as if winning the 2022 Winter Olympics bid has put skiers in China into panic mode – they really want to get better at skiing, and fast."

The best time to hit the slopes is probably January, linking in with the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin. But the snow season lasts up until June.